“Okay,” Cove approved as he examined the badge, turning it over and running his thumb across the engraving of his name.
“That’s for the front gate,” Ben continued, stepping closer to the doorway again and gesturing toward the corridor. “Also, the front entrance into the home and the interior access point for entrance into the aquarium wing. Some areas are restricted unless Tobias adds clearance later, but anything you’ll need regularly should already be active.”
Cove nodded seriously, attention fully engaged.
“And the scanners?” he asked.
“Touch panel readers,” Ben said. “You’ll see them beside the doors. Just hold the badge near the sensor. If something doesn’t open that you think should, tell me.”
“Okay.”
“There’s a secondary chip in that envelope. If your badge is lost or damaged, you can use it instead until a replacement is ordered.”
“Alright.”
“I’m usually somewhere nearby,” Ben added kindly. “If you need anything—tools, access adjustments, supplies—just ask.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Ben then glanced at me, as if confirming there was nothing else I required from him in the moment. When I gave no further instruction, he stepped backward toward the hall.
“Right. I’ll leave you two to it, then,” he said lightly, giving Cove another friendly smile before walking off.
Once he was gone, I gestured toward the desk chair.
“You should sit,” I said.
Cove did so as I crossed the room and took the sofa opposite him.
“We should discuss expectations,” I said.
“Yes,” he agreed quickly, straightening into the posture he adopted whenever he was preparing to absorb information. “Please.”
“There is a baseline schedule prepared for you,” I continued. “It is in the folder on the desk.”
He reached for it and immediately began scanning the pages inside.
“This is really detailed,” he said after flipping through.
“Yes, it was originally for my past caretakers. As I’ve mentioned, since the last one left us, Ben and I have been working to keep up with everything. But as you can see, the original schedule is… well—”
“A full-time job,” Cove finished, his fingers resting lightly against the edge of the folder as he continued reading.
“Exactly. But you should understand,” I added, “that the schedule is not intended to remain fixed.”
He glanced up.
“I would like you to adjust it.”
“Adjust it?”
“Yes. You’re the expert here.”
His brows pulled together.
“I want you to take full responsibility for the systems,” I clarified. “All tanks. All animals. All maintenance sequencing.”
